Ore concentrating device



P 1936- 1 P. H, STEVENSON 2,052,809

ORE CONCENTRATING DEVICE Fil ed Oc t. 9 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I INVENTOR. Pv/z/P /75 5757297760 ATTORNEY.

. p 1936 P. H. STEVENSON 2,052,809

ORE CONCENTRATING DEVICE Filed Oct 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, 1936 "UNITED". STATES PATENT OFFICE H "2,052,809 01in- CONCENTRATING DEVICE .Philip Stevenson, Denver, 7 0014., assignor of i one third to Philip A. Wittand one-third to Geraldine A. Witt, both of Denver, Colo. Ap'plicationOctober 9, 1934, Serial No'. 247,542

Claims. ((1204-15) 4 This invention relates to an ore concentrating device, and has for its principal objecttheprovision ofamethod and construction which will not only collect separate mineral values from 15 ore pulp, but will simultaneously producea flocculating chemical in the pulp during the separating phase 'so as to coagulate or precipitate the exceedingly fine suspended metallic values which areordinarily carried away in suspension.

It is well known that aluminum hydroxide in solutions has the property of forming floccules which in settling carry down any suspended solids or other substances from the solution. It is also well known that a concentrating table as used in ore dressing has the property'of settling and catching the heavier mineral values from flowing ore pulp.

This invention is designed to combine these two well known properties into a single unit-so that the aluminum hydroxide will be produced immediately on a concentrating table to precipitate suspended values to the table rifiles for collection.

Briefly this is accomplished by positioning energized electrodes of aluminum or aluminum alloy in the path of the flowing pulp upon the concentratingtable, or in the path of the pulp to the concentrating table or both. In this way, the aluminum hydroxide is electrolytically produced at the very point where it is to be used, and is therefore in a highly efiiclent and nascent condition, resulting in an immediate and highly efficient action.

Other objects are to so construct the device that the electrodes will present a maximum active surface for electrolytic action; so that the electrodes can be easily removed and replaced when they become eaten away; so that short circuits and electrical break downs are avoided;

and so that the electrodes will not interfere with the natural flow and table action.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency.

These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a typical concentrating table to which the invention has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the table top.

Fig. 4 is a detail section, lookingtoward the head end of the table, and taken on the line 5-4, Fig. 3. 5

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section through the head endof the table, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

A typical concentrating table is illustrated at I ll, with its water box at ll, feed launder at I2, 10 tailings box at l3, concentrate box at M, and head board at I5. Such a table is provided with a series of rifiles I6 secured in parallel relation to a bottom" of linoleum or similar material. Means, of course, are provided (though not 15 shown) forvibrating or shaking the table when in operation.

The invention is applied to the table It] by placing a series of insulating spacing discs l8 along the upper edge of the riffles I6 and placing 2O metallic strips or bars, which will be herein designated as the anodes l9, thereon. The spacing discs I8 maintain the anodes a slight distance above and parallel to the tops of the riffles I6. Between each pair of rifiles, a second metallic 25 strip or bar, which will be herein designated as the .cathodes 20, is placed and supported upon suitable insulating spacers 2|.

J The anodes l9, and the cathodes 20 are secured to the table by means of suitable screws 30 22 which pass through the strips, through the spacers, and into the linoleum table top H. The anodes l9 are electrically connected together, preferably adjacent the head board I5, by means of a positive bus bar 23. The cathodes 20 are 3 similarly connected by means of a negative bus bar 24. The bus bars 23 and 24 lead to any suitable generating equipment as indicated at 25.

It has been found that the table will operate satisfactory on either alternating or direct cur- 40 rent so that the terms positive, negative", anode, and cathode. as used herein, are simply used for convenient nomenclature and not to indicate direction of flow of the electrical current.

It is preferred to place a two series of laterally 45 inclined bars 25 and 26 of aluminum or aluminum alloy at the feed side of the table in the path of the pulp flow. The bars 25 are connected to a collector bar 21, and the bars 26 are connected to a similar collector bar 28. The collector bars 50 21 and 28 are in turn connected to the bus bars 23 and 24, respectively.

It can be readily seen that when aqueous ore pulp is fed laterally across the table over the riflles l6, it will act as an electrollte in which the 55 aluminum hydroxide before it reaches the rifles.

This surcharging action can be still further en hanced by positioning a series of aluminum electrodes 29 in the feed launder l2, and connecting these with the source of current. The electrodes 29 are not rifles and maybe placed in the flow in any desired manner.

The above construction has many advantages. First the open space below each of the strips ale lows the solution to fiow under as well as over the electrodes so as to present a maximum amount of surface to the electrolytic action. Another advantage of this spaced-away construction resides in the fact that the eating away or electrolysis of the electrodes does not interfere with the collecting action of the rifles. If the bars were placed flat against the table, they would present only one side to electrolysis, would create an uncertain riiiie action and as they became eaten away would create an uneven pulp flow to the detriment of the concentrating action of the table. o r a While preferred forms of the invention have been described in some detail together with the theories which it isbelieved to best explainits success, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise procedure described nor is dependent upon the accuracy of the theories which have been advanced. Onthe contrary, the invention is not to be regarded as limit: ed except in so far as such limitations are included with the terms of the accompanying claims in which it is the intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as is permissible in view of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is: p I, I

v 1. An ore concentrating; device comprising: a

producing an aluminum hydroxide adjacent said rifles comprising: a metallic strip extending along each of said rifles; means for furnishing electrical current to said strips; and insulating spacers supporting said strips in spaced relation to said rifles.

j 3. A riflle construction for concentrating tables comprising: a series of spaced apart, parallel, tapered rifles secured to said table; an aluminum strip above eachof said rifles; spacing members spacing said strips from said riflesgrmeans for securing said strips to said rifles; andmeans for connecting said strips toa source of electric current. v 7

4. A rifle construction for concentrating tables comprising: a series of spaced apart. parallel, tapered riflessecured to said table; analuminum strip above each of said rifles; spacing .member spacing said strips from said rifles; means for securing said strips to said rifles in combination with .a second series of metallic strips, each strip of said second series being positioned below the first strips between a pair of said rifles; means for spacing said second series above said table; andmeans for connecting-said two series of strips to opposite poles of a current source.

5. A rifle construction for concentrating tables comprising: aseries of spaced apart, parallel, ta-. peredrifles securedtosaid table; an aluminum strip above each of said rifles; spacing members spacing said strips from said rifles; means for securing said strips to said rifles, there being fluid passages betweensaid strips and said rifles so that-solution may flow beneath said strips and over said riflles; and means for connecting said strips to a source of electric current.

lPHiLIP s'rEvENsoN. 

